Steps – 13,811 (could be counted as 15,811…got 2,000
after midnight!)
Humidity – 65%
This is our second visit to the British Virgin Islands (pop.30,000). The last time we were here, we visited Virgin Gorda and the Baths. It was such a cool experience, that we decided to try to replicate it…don’t do that. We were worried it wouldn’t live up to our memory.
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| to The Baths |
We had fun but weren’t as wowed as we were the first time. Plus…there were more people here this
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| boats in the Viegin Gorda bay |
time – or at least it seemed that way especially in one spot where it is very skinny between the boulders. Everywhere else seemed similarly full of people.
Anyway, a visit to Virgin Gorda and the Baths requires a 45-minute ferry ride from where the ship is docked on Tortola (one of the 4 main islands of the BVI). Then a 10-minute truck trip and we are at “the baths”. The last time we were here the guide, who was more of an escort than a guide, told us to ‘have fun and be back in a couple of hours’. This time the 3 escorts, led us to the first point of
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| giant boulders |
interest which was a beach. We dipped our toes in the water, admired the beauty and finally told the escorts we would continue on our own.
This was a good plan because when we
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| waiting in line |
got to the entrance to the caves (more like narrow passages between huge boulders) there was a line up. It is very narrow so that you need to go single file. There are stairs and ropes to use, so that it goes slow…but this was really slow. At one point about 10 people ahead of us an 80-year-old man had a seizure. This is not a good place to have a seizure. I think they eventually got him out on his own, we were told emergency folks were coming, but we didn’t see any.
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| painkillers |
The ship gave everyone who booked this tour a reminder that this was a strenuous tour, that you had to be physically fit, couldn’t be claustrophobic, and other cautions…and that this wasn’t a beach break. Even if someone just wanted to go to the beach where we first stopped, they would have to traverse a steep, long path.
Anyway, The Baths are impressive…huge, granite boulders sprinkled at the edge of the water. As you wind through the rocks you are walking through ankle and sometimes kneed deep tide pools. Because we’ve been here before and because of the crowd, the shine was off of this place for us a bit.
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| beautiful bay |
We knew there was a beach bar at the end of rocks
and planned to spend some time there chilling in the shade. We weren’t rushed
but didn’t have that much time for chilling.
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| finally got the conch |
We also wanted to stop at the restaurant at the top of The Baths for a painkiller (famous BVI cocktail) and conch fritters. We had a drink, but no fritters.
Back on Tortola, we went back to Pussers, where
we had lunch last time – this time we got the fritters!
A short nap before we were out for New Year’s
festivities which started with Jassan Allen’s pre-dinner tribute to Lionel
Richie – it was fun.
Pre-dinner meant it was over at 645. We went back to the room for some reading on the balcony time before our usual pre-dinner cocktail followed by dinner and then the party. We planned to be out until midnight so starting at 6 and staying out was just too long.
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| HAPPY NEW YEAR! |
The ship’s New Year’s party took place in the theatre. This is our 3rd New Year’s in a row on this ship – the last 2 had the parties in the theatre. This sounds odd,
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| our usual |
but it’s great. There’s lots of room for people to spread out, for servers to serve, and for the band to play. Lots of people danced on the dance floor, but some danced all over the theatre…that’s what we did – how we got our steps up!
We got to bed around 1 – it was a great New
Year’s Eve!!
